Green-corn cutter



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

S. D. WARFIELD.

GREEN CORN CUTTER.

No. 304,149. Patented Aug. 26, 1884.

(N0 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. D. WARPIBLD.

GREEN 001m CUTTER. No. 304,149. Patented Aug. 26, 1884.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

S. D. WARPIELD.

GREEN 001m GUTTER.

Patented Aug. 26,1884.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

S. Dx WARPIELD GREEN CORN CUTTER. No. 304,149. Pa te nted Al lg. 26,1884.

M/MLML (Nu Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 5.

S. D. WARFIELD.

GREEN CORN CUTTER.

No. 304,149 Patented Aug. 26, 1884.

lUiviTnn STATns FnTntvT Orrrcn.

SOLOMON DAVIES YVARFIELD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

GREEN-CORN CUTTER.

EPECITE'ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,149, dat d A g1884- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON DAvins VAR- FIELD, of the city of Baltimoreand State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Green-CornGutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class ofgreencorn cutters in which the ear is forced horizontally through acutting-head.

In the description of the said invention which follows reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which-Figure l is an exterior side view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top Viewof Fig. 1, with the cutting-head removed and the centering devicesclosed. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, except that the centeringdevices are open. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are sectional views, on anenlarged scale, of the machine, taken through the dotted line 1; t, Fig.3, and showing the centering devices in the various positions which theyassume during the operation of the machine. Fig. Sis an enlarged planview of the centering devices, and certain parts of the machineimmediately connected therewith. Figs. 9 to 25, inclusive, are views ofdetails of the machine. Figs. 26 and 27 illustrate modifications in theconstruction of the cutting-knives and their attachments. Fig. 28 showsamodified construction of another part of the machine.

A is the frame of the machine supported on suitable legs, 13 B.

O is the cutting-head, secured in any appropriate manner to the end ofthe frame A. For a detailed description of this head, sec Letters PatentNo. 281,588, granted to me on the 17th day of July 1883, as the headherein shown corresponds to that described in the said Letters Patent,except in certain features hereinafter specified.

The centering devices hereinbefore alluded to consistof a grated clasp,D, in two interlocking parts, a a, which are secured torods b.

These rods are adapted to slide radiallyof the axial line of the ear,and are sustained by arms 0 c, which are connected together, and in turnslide in a corresponding direction on fixed bars (I d, which passthrough and are sooured to the frame A. These sustaining-arms arepivoted to levers E E at e e, which have their fulcra at ff at the rearend of the frame A. The upper portion of the grated clasp D forms areceiver, D, for the ear. (See particularly Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, inwhich the said ear rests before the centering devices are opened.)

F is a rod, by means of which the ear is forced from the centeringdevices through the cutting-head, and it has a longitudinalreciprocating movement, obtained through the medium of the crank G andthe connectingrod H.

I is a balance-wheel on the driving-shaft 1 to give to the shaftregularity of rotation, and p the said shaft may be driven by hand orpower, as desired. The leversEhave slots or grooves 71, (seeparticularly 8,) and a cross-head, K, (see Fig. 9,) which is fastened tothe rod F and moves with it, is provided with pins i, carrying rollersit, which latter rest in the grooves h in the said levers.

In order that the longitudinal reciprocating movement of the rod F andits cross-head K may effect an alternate opening and closing of theclasp D, the slots it have inclined offsets Z. The rollers is, coming incontact with the inner inclined surfaces of the slots h at theGOIl'lmencement of the forward stroke of the rod F, cause the levers Eto approach each other and close the clasp D. As soon as the rollershave passed from the inclines Zinto the straight portions of the groovesit beyond them, the closing of the clasp ceases, and it is retained in aclosed position until, in the rcturn-strokeof the rod F, the rollers 2;again enter the inclines l. The rollers in coming in contact with theouter surfaces of the said inclines in the returnstroke of the rod F,open the levers, and with them the clasp. An alternate construction ofthis portion of the machine may consist of levers without grooves, and across-head with rollers to bind or bear against the edges of the lovers,as shown in Fig. 28.

Parts of the machine not yet alluded to will be described, and theiruses set forth in the description of the operation of the inventionwhich follows. Supposing the machine to be in operation ,with allitsparts in positiomasshown in Fig. 3, and with an ear in the clasp, asindicated in Fig. 5, the rod F, in its forward stroke, first effects theclosing of the clasp, as before described, in which operation the ear israised from the bottom of the said clasp to a central position therein,as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, which figures correspond, except that inthem difi'erent-sized ears are shown. At the comple tion of the claspingand centcrin g operations, as just dcscribed,the forward end of the rodF has reached the entrance of the clasp D, and in its continued forwardmovement forces the now accurately centered car from the clasp into andthrough the cutting-head.

In order that ears of all sizes may be accn' rately centered, which isabsolutely necessary to the proper cutting of corn, I make the parts a aof the clasp I) to interlock at both top and bottom, when the smallestears are held be tween them, and as the movement of the crosshead gives,under all circumstances, a positive motion to the supporting-arms cc,which carry the rods 5, to which the parts a c of the clasp B arefastened, I place springs or on the rods 1) and confine them endwisebetween the outer arm, 0, and collars a, which are adjustable inposition to allow of any desired tension being obtained. During thereturn orbaekward stroke of the rod F, and before the clasp is againopened, an ear is deposited in the receiver 1), formed by the upperportions of the clasp I), and when the said clasp is again opened thesaid our falls to the bottom of the clasp, and to the positionheretofore described, and shown in Fig. 5.

As the car must be held firmly within the clasp I), in order that it maybe accurately centered, I provide the clasp with rollers u, to reducefriction, and thereby prevent abrasion of the outer casing of the grain.(Sec particularly Figs. 8, 22, and 23.) These rollers are of rubber orother soft material, with metallic cores it, (see Fig. 22,) which coresrcvolve with the rollers proper on the bars m of the clasp. In Figs. 24:and 25 the clasp is shown without rollers, and with theinterlockingsbars flattened. This form of clasp may be used wherepracticable.

lVhile the cutting-head O, as an entirety, is substantially the same asthat shown and described in Letters Patent No. 281,588, before alludedto, and to which reference should be made, it differs in the followingparticulars: Q. Q are levers, pivoted to the annular plate Q, of thehead by means of adjustable brackets Q. The outer ends of these leversare adapted as scrapers, which are used in connection with the scrapersdescribed in the said Letters Patent. These new scrapers are placed sothat the car enters from the pivoted ends.- Consequently the entrance ofthe car has a tendency to expand or distend the scrapers, see Fig. 14,)and blunt ears, or those entirely devoid of a point, can be entered withthe same facility as pointed ones. Further, with the scrapers pivoted asdescribed and shown in Figs. 11 and 14, a sharp scraping-edge 1S alwayspresented to the cob. Rear extensions of the levers Q, have setscrews 3which bear against the annular-plate Q, and prevent the entire closingof the scrapers. Springs 5 gave the necessary resiliency to the scrapersQ, and

the elasticity of the said springs may be changed by means of theset-screws .2 (See Fig. 12.)

A back view of the new and old. scrapers 13 shown in 13.

In Figs. 15 and 19 are shown the radiallysliding knife-plate and itsattachments, which are described and shown in Letters Patent No.281,588, before alluded to. In these figures it will be seen that thepin R, which holds the spring R, is adjustable, it being inserted in aslot in the said knife-plate S, and fastened by a nut, R, on the innerside thereof. (See Fig. 19.

l he object of the adj ustability of the pin R is to admit of the saidpin being moved toward or from the pins S, which are stationary and.project from the stationary support S for the sliding knife-plate S. henthe pin R is moved toward the pins S, the spring It is more tightlycoiled, and increased in rigidity, and vice versa.

In Figs. 16 and 17 the knifeplate and its attach ments, which areimmediately below the car as it passes through the head, are shown aspartially enveloped by a casing, T, to protect them against the fallingcorn. In Figs. 18, 20, and 21 I have shown a hood, U, which preventsscattering of the grain as cut, and it has an outlet-aperture, U, whichconducts the removed grain to any suitable receptacle. A chute, U,formed on the rear plate of the hood U, serves to convey the cob, afterthe removal of the grain therefrom, clear of the machine. This hood isattached to the annular ICO plate Q, and is in two parts, one of which(see Fig. 20) may be easily and readily removed, to expose the cuttingand scraping mechanism.

Figs. 26 and 27 show knives and their at tachments, which may be used inthe machine instead of those described in Letters Patent.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with the cutting-head of agreen-corn cutter, a clasping and centering device in. two parts,adapted to have a reciprocating movement radially of the ear, and tointerlock above and below the. ear, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the cutting-headof a greeircorn cutter, aclasping and centering device carrying interlocking rollers,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with the cutting-head of a green-corn cutter, claspingand centering devices adapted to have a reciprocating move ment radiallyof the axis of the ear, levers to which the said clasping and centeringdevices are pivoted, having inclined offsets, as described, alongitudinally-moving central rod a greencorn cutter,

to force the car from the clasping and centering devices through thesaid cutting-head, and a crosshcad fastened to the said rod andconnected with the said levers to effect the open ing and closing of theclasping and centering devices in its reciprocating motion,substantially as specified.

I. In combination with the cutting-head of a green-corn cutter, claspingand centering devices adapted to have a reciprocating movement radiallyof the axis of the ear, levers to which the said clasping devices areyieldingly attached, and having inclines, as described, alongitudinally-moving central rod to force the car from the saidclasping and centering devices through the cutting-head, and a crossheadfastened to said central rod and connected to said levers to effect theopening and closing of the said clasping and centering devices in itsreciprocating motion, substantially as speci fled.

5.. In the cutting-head of a green-corn cutter, the combination of theannular plate Q, adjustable brackets Q and pivoted scraping levers Q,the scraping-edges of the saidlevers being in the rear of the pivotalpoints, as an ear is forced through the said cutting-head, substantiallyas specified.

6. In combination with the sliding knife plate S, 'the stationarysupport S, having the fixed pins S, spring R, and the pin R, the saidpin being held adjustably to the said knife-plate, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

7. In combination with the cutting-head of a greemcorn cutter, the hoodU, having a removable section, for the purpose described, thedischargeopening U, and chute U, the said chute being on a linecorresponding with the axis of the car during the cutting opera ation,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In combination with the cutting-head of a series of supportedclasping and centering rollers, and means for forcingthe car from thesupported rollers to the said cutting-head, substantially as specified.

9. In combination with the cutting-head of a green-corn cutter, a seriesof supported interlocking clasping and centering rollers, and

means for forcing the car from the said supported interlocking rollersto the cutter-head, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, in the clasping and centering device D, of therollers a, formed of some soft flexible material, with a metallic core,to, and the bars x, the said rollers being adapted to revolve loosely onthe said bars, substantially as specified.

11. In combination with the cuttinghead of a green-corn cutter, a seriesof supported clasping and centering rollers arranged on either side ofthe line of movement of the ear and adapted to have a reciprocatingmovement radially of the axis of the ear, and means to force the saidcar from between the said supported rollers to the said cutti ng-head,substantially as specified.

12. In combinationwith the cutting-head of a green corn-cutter, a seriesof inclined sup ported clasping and centering rollers arranged on eitherside of the line of movement of the ear and adapted to have areciprocating move ment radially of the axis of the ear, and means toforce the said ear from between the said sup ported rollers to the saidcutting-head, substantially as specified.

13. In a green-corn cutter, the combination of a cuttinghead and pivotedscraping devices with the pivotal points radially adj ustable,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

SOLOMON DAVIES WARFUJLI).

Witnesses:

WM. T. Howxnn, CHAS. B. Oiissiiny.

